• The urban legends about people from Kandy 

Kandy gets a bad rap, sometimes, especially when it comes to the numerous assumptions that Sri Lankans have about Kandyans. We have all, at one point or another, said something along the lines of “Oh, they’re so proud, you know. It’s because they’re from Kandy,” or a similar iteration of this kind of statement. 

However, beyond the clichés and stereotypes lies a city steeped in rich history, cultural significance, and natural beauty. As the last capital of the era of the ancient kings of Sri Lanka, Kandy holds a special place in the hearts of its inhabitants and the nation as a whole. 

Situated amidst lush hills on the Kandy plateau, the city serves as both an administrative and religious centre, proudly bearing the title of the capital of the Central Province. Moreover, it is home to the renowned Temple of the Tooth Relic (Sri Dalada Maligawa), revered as one of the most sacred places of worship in the Buddhist world.

However, amidst all this culture and heritage, Kandy also boasts a plethora of aristocratic families, known as ‘Walauwa’ families, which tends to lend to the widespread misconception that Kandyan people are ‘proud’. The pinnacle of ‘Walauwas’ in the Sinhala social stratum is the ‘Wasala Walauwa,’ as we all know. In the Sinhalese social hierarchy, a ‘Wasala Walauwa’ would typically be the ancestral residence of a Mudaliyar. Nowadays, we all know just a handful of surnames that are associated with these ‘Walauwas’. These families still maintain their social status, often holding higher positions in the Government as well.

Given this historical context that still prevails, there exists a narrative that Kandyans are a certain type of way, and this stereotype tends to portray them as proud and ignorant, lacking in humility, and believing themselves to be superior to others. This might be a harsh read on Kandyans coming from a non-Kandyan, so let us ask some Kandyans and people who live and grew up in Kandy to share their thoughts on these widespread ‘misconceptions’ about Kandy and its people.

Equal to Colombo schools’ rivalry

Speaking to The Sunday Morning Brunch, Wathsala Herath revealed some interesting perspectives, as she noted: “There is a lot of truth to these ‘assumptions’ about Kandyans, but I think they are actually well-founded, and Kandyans can back up their attitude.

“Kandyans come off as if they think they are the best people in the world, mostly because of the connections and social status that these bigger families hold. If you look at the military in Sri Lanka, a majority of higher-ranking officials tend to be from Kandy. 

“The closest that I can equate this kind of social status to is how Colombo schools have their statuses, where being from Ananda or Nalanda would give you a certain type of social cachet. Similarly, if you are from one of those aristocratic families, then it is likely that you want to keep it that way without watering down the importance of your rank,” Wathsala shared.

She further added: “For Sri Lanka, the system of democracy and what came with the capitalist system were given to us, right? We did not have merchants and that bourgeoisie class to bring it up organically. What we had were aristocrats and they were the only ones who had the capital to invest in this new system, to this day. 

“The people who hold economic power in Kandy, an example being the ‘Sinhala Welanda Sangamaya,’ own at least half of the businesses in Kandy town. If you look at the famous Devon Bakers and Bake House, they are situated opposite each other, but actually, they are brothers. These businesses are in one family, making them the biggest bakery chain in Kandy, so they have this supremacy.”

Wathsala emphasised: “If you look at surnames like Aluwihare and Marapana; they are well-known families with very current connections and positions in politics and in business. It hasn’t mattered that we have moved forward in this open economy because none of it matters as these families have continued to dominate in these powerful positions. They have accumulated wealth and so that is why I say that they do have some backing when they think they are better than everyone else because arguably they are.”

Interestingly, Watsala also noted that because of the caste system and social status continuing to the present day, there were certain families who were considered low caste and could be recognised through their surnames. She went on to say that the children of these families had gone on to change their surnames because they simply could not break out of a system that looked at them as inferior.

What makes a Kandyan?

From the many people in Kandy we spoke to, they all shared that while, indeed, there were aristocratic families in Kandy who might consider themselves as ‘Kandyans’ due to their lineage, the majority of those who lived in Kandy, were born in Kandy, and were raised in Kandy were not actually ‘Kandyans’ in that way. However, they too are subject to perceptions of such aristocratic Kandyans.

Shehara Harini, another resident of Kandy, shared: “Calling the people of Kandy as ‘Kandyans’ is quite a big misconception among many others. The term ‘Kandyan’ refers to a particular caste which was considered a high caste in the social hierarchy during the Kingdom of Kandy. To this day, these Kandyans are the families that hold titles such as ‘Nilame’ or ‘Mudali,’ or are addressed as ‘Haamu’ by lower castes. 

“These families are known to be particular about the people they associate with in terms of marriage, and most Kandyan families do not marry from any caste other than their own. It is not just Kandyans who live in Kandy. People from each and every caste, social status, religion, and nationality live peacefully together. Just address us as people of Kandy.”

Similarly, many others also expressed that Kandy was a diverse place, and there were more people who lived in Kandy than just “Kandyans”. There seems to be quite some frustration among people living in Kandy regarding these generalised perceptions of supposed “Kandyans”.

Pride and culture

Niluka Perera, also born and raised in Kandy, shared: “Most people think Kandy people are proud. They seem reserved and don’t socialise as much, and I think it is a cultural thing. Kandy is such a small town, and growing up, we didn’t have much space to socialise. We would spend more time with family, and now, when we meet other people, we lack some of those social skills to build up rapport. I think this can lend itself to this misconception about Kandy people.”

Yoshini Rochelle, another native of Kandy city also shared: “I think one of the biggest misconceptions society has about people in Kandy is that Kandyans are super cultural and do not have a life beyond it, but I would beg to differ. Yes, Kandy is a city that takes immense pride in its cultural heritage, but it does not mean we do not have a life beyond it. Our lives in Kandy aren’t as busy as the capital, but we are surrounded by places and people that make us feel at home and at ease. 

“The younger generation of this city is quite talented at finding hidden gems to spend an evening and have a good time. To put it simply, Kandyans are good at making the most of our beautiful city, and it does not mean we do not live. By living, we balance culture, heritage, and social lives all together while protecting values.”

Kandy, like any other city in the country, is a diverse geographic location with a multitude of people from various backgrounds and origins. While there may be some truth to the stereotype of the proud Kandyan, as is evident from the very different takes expressed by people living in Kandy, it is important not to generalise and perpetuate misconceptions about the people who live in Kandy. 

Just as in any other city, there is a rich tapestry of individuals with different perspectives, experiences, and ways of life. It’s essential to recognise and celebrate this diversity rather than pigeonhole people into narrow stereotypes based on where they come from.